Centre manager Andy Gilon greets a dog at the new Blue Cross Centre in Ipswich.

The cattery at the new Blue Cross Centre in Ipswich.

Biscuit waits in the cattery for a new home at the new Blue Cross Centre in Ipswich.

Biscuit waits in the cattery for a new home at the new Blue Cross Centre in Ipswich.

Lilly recovers from her spay while waiting for a new home at the new Blue Cross Centre in Ipswich.

Biscuit, with animal welfare advisor Victoria Nesling, waits in the cattery for a new home at the new Blue Cross Centre in Ipswich.

Collie Luna waits for her new family to pick her up from the puppy unit at the new Blue Cross Centre in Ipswich.

Centre manager Andy Gillon holds Riley in the puppy unit at the new Blue Cross Centre in Ipswich.

Riley waits for a new home in the puppy unit at the new Blue Cross Centre in Ipswich.

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The Blue Cross opened its new premises in Wherstead this month after moving from its former site in Felixstowe, where it operated for 40 years.

The new and improved facilities include puppy and kitten areas, an on-site veterinary clinic for centre pets, maternity unit, clinical suite for operations and dedicated exercise areas, including 20 acres of neighbouring woodland where staff and volunteers can walk dogs.

Centre manager Andy Gillon said the new location would enable more animals to benefit from the charity’s services. “The facilities at Felixstowe were too old and there was no room for expansion,” Mr Gillon said.

“Moving here not only allows us to help the people and pets of Felixstowe but it makes our service more far-reaching.

“We can house more animals on site but the facilities should dictate that the animals spend less time in the kennels.”

The move has also allowed the centre to expand its Home Direct service, which gives people who need to give up their pet the opportunity to keep them until the charity can find a new home for them, rather than bringing them into the centre.

Mr Gillon said the last two weekends had been very busy, with around 40 people coming through the doors per day.

The new £3.5milllion complex, located at Clock Fields, opposite the Suffolk Ski Centre at Bourne Hill, currently has around six dogs and 10 cats which need new homes.

Mr Gillon said the main benefits of taking home a pet from Blue Cross was that it would be fully vaccinated, neutered, micro-chipped, given worm and flee treatment, with four weeks free pet insurance and a life-time of behaviour support.

For more information, call 0300 777 1480.

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